‘I’LL SEE YOU AT THE BALLPARK’: Hundreds gather for Schoendist’s funeral at Cathedral Basilica

Hundreds gather for Schoendienst funeral

Staff, wire report

Published
5:09 pm CDT, Friday, June 15, 2018

The casket of baseball Hall of Famer Red Schoendienst is brought into the Cathedral Basilica for his funeral Mass Friday in St. Louis.

The casket of baseball Hall of Famer Red Schoendienst is brought into the Cathedral Basilica for his funeral Mass Friday in St. Louis.

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AP

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The casket of baseball Hall of Famer Red Schoendienst is brought into the Cathedral Basilica for his funeral Mass Friday in St. Louis.

The casket of baseball Hall of Famer Red Schoendienst is brought into the Cathedral Basilica for his funeral Mass Friday in St. Louis.

Photo:

AP

‘I’LL SEE YOU AT THE BALLPARK’: Hundreds gather for Schoendist’s funeral at Cathedral Basilica

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ST. LOUIS — They said farewell to the ol’ Redhead Friday.

The Funeral Mass for longtime St. Louis Cardinals player, manager and coach Albert “Red” Schoendienst was said Friday morning at the Cathedral Basilica in St. Louis. Hundreds of people gathered to say goodbye to the man who was part of the Cardinals organization one one way or another for 67 years.

Schoendienst died last week at 95.

A native of Germantown, Illinois, Schoendienst was remembered as a loyal, kind, caring man by those who spoke, including Cardinals announcer Mike Shannon, who also played for Schoendienst.

“He lived by the Golden Rule,” Shannon said. “He was born in the Depression and never forgot where he came from. When you saw Red, you saw a smile.

“Everybody wanted to be just like Red,” Shannon said, choking back tears. “People come and people go, but Red’s spirit will always be in our hearts.”

Schoendienst spent most of his playing career in St. Louis and managed the team to the 1967 World Series championship and the 1968 National League pennant. All told, he spent nearly 67 seasons in a Cardinals uniform as a player, coach and manager.

Bill DeWitt, the chairman of the Cardinals, referenced Schoendienst’s tenure when he spoke to the congregation.

“His impact on the Cardinals franchise has truly been historic,” DeWitt said. “This season was his 67th with the Cardinals and his 76th in professional baseball. I assure you, that will never be equalled.”

Those in attendance included current Cardinals Yadier Molina, Matt Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. Former Cardinals included Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Tim McCarver, Ted Simmons and Bruce Sutter, as well as former managers Whitey Herzog and Tony La Russa.

Jeff Idelson of the Baseball Hall of Fame, of which Schoendienst was a member, also eulogized Schoendienst.

“The Baseball Hall of Fame embraces the qualities of character, integrity and sportsmanship,” Idelson said, “and there’s no one who embodied those traits more so than Red Schoendienst and that’s why Red was universally respected and beloved, not only in St. Louis, but everywhere that baseball is played.”

One of Schoendienst’s daughter, Colleen Schoendienst delivered the final eulogy for her father.

“He had a strong moral compass that drove him to do the right tings in life.”

Schoendienst was born in 1923 in Germantown, some 40 miles southeast of St. Louis.

He grew up a Cardinals fan and later became a Cardinal after he and two friends hitchhiked on a milk truck to St. Louis when they heard the team was holding tryouts. It was the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship. He was a 10-time All -Star and later managed to team to a pair of National League pennants and the 1067 World Series championship. He remained a coach and later special consultant with the team until his death.

“Growing up in Germantown, Illinois, with his six brothers and sister was the start of his learning about family loyalty, hard work and fun,” Colleen Schoendienst said. “The Shannon brothers always had something happening.

“They were always playing baseball. And boy, were they good.”

“Growing up, his family did not have much,” she said, with her voice cracking. “But Dad always said, ‘We had everything.’”

Colleen Schoendienst said her father never let his fame change him and made sure his children had a normal childhood.

“We had a loving home, full of music, laughter and of course, baseball,” she said. “Sundays were our family days. After 9 a.m. Mass, Dad would slip on his white apron to flip pancakes and scramble eggs.

“Before Dad would leave for the game, he’d give us a kiss and say, ‘I’ll see you at the ballpark.’”